Universally adjustable invalid chair



Nov..6, 1956 M. A. PETERSON 8 UNIVERSALLY ADJUSTABLE INVALID CHAIR Filed April 25, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet J Nov. 6, 1956 M. A. PETERSON UNIVERSALLY ADJUSTABLE INVALID CHAIR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 25, 1955 United States Patent G 2,769,483 UNIVERSALLY ADJUSTABLE INVALID CHAIR Marjorie A. Peterson, Fairficld, (Ialif. Application April 25, 1955, Serial No. 503,529 14 Claims. (Cl. 155-48) This invention relates to improvements in chairs for invalids particularly those who are partly or wholly paralyzed through cerebral palsy, poliomyelitis, and similar ailments, and provides a chair which is universally adjustable to fit the particular person for perfect support, enabling the patient to be seated in the most comfortable and desirable position.

It is known that various types of seats have been made with certain limited adjustments, for which reason they are very limited in their application and uses. So far as known, none have ever been made which can be adjusted to suitably support all parts of the person, and which universal support is the important feature of this invention.

This chair, which is the subject of the invention, can be made in several diiferent sizes, each of which can be adjusted to the bodies of persons through predetermined ranges in size or age. For example, about four different sizes of chairs will accommodate the entire range from 2 years to mature adult. One size which is now in use will properly support a child 7 years old when the chair is adjusted to its maximum, while adjusted to its minimum will prove perfect for a child two years old. Other suitable sizes would range from 7 to 11 years, 11 to 16, and 16 to adult sizes.

The back, seat, and leg drop are all adjustable as to both, length or height, and width. The back is adjustable for inclination in either direction from the perpendicular, for forward or rearward leaning. The arm slings are adjustable for height as is also the table. The head supports are adjustable for span, and for height through height adjustment of the back, and the leg drop is provided with a foot rest which is provided with foot locators, thus providing a universally adjustable chair in which a paralyzed person can be comfortably secured and supported in the most advantageous and desirable position.

The objects and advantages of the invention are as follows:

First, to provide a universally adjustable chair for adjustment to the frame of a person for perfect support throughout.

Second, to provide a chair as outlined in which all parts of the chair are adjustable as to both, length or height, and width.

Third, to provide a chair as outlined with an adjustable foot support and foot retainers adjustable as to span and location.

Fourth, to provide a chair as outlined in which the back of the chair is adjustable for inclination in either direction, forwardly or backwardly, from the perpendicular.

Fifth, to provide a chair as outlined with arm slings which are adjustable as to both, height and location relative to the back of the chair.

Sixth, to provide a chair as outlined with head supports adjustable as to span for suitably supporting the head of a person.

' Seventh, to provide a chair as outlined with a table adjustable as to height.

Eighth, to provide a chair as outlined which is adjustable to the frames of persons through a range of ages from a minimum to a maximum of about five years, to adult.

In describing the invention reference will be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the means of support of the chair in phantom.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view showing a modification of the adjustment locking means.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section through one type 'of hinge for the hinged connections.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section through a connection between one of the chair frame members and a support tube.

Fig. 7 shows a modification of the connection between the inner telescopic members and the cross members.

Fig. 8 is a modification of the hinge structure illustrated in Fig. 5.

The invention consists of a chair having a back 10, a seat 11, a leg drop 12, and side arms 13, all of these parts being adjustable, with the back, seat, and leg drop being adjustable as to width, the leg drop and back adjustable as to height and inclination, and the seat adjustable as to length.

Each of these members consists of two side frames telescopically connected, each side frame comprising a main section having two longitudinal members 14 and 15 connected at one end by a cross member 16, and, a telescopic section also having two longitudinal members 17 and 18 which are slidable in the members 14 and 15, and having a cross member 19 at one end, these two sections being telescopic for adjustment of the length of the frame, and the two opposed frames are also telescopically connected as by a member 20 which is fixed in the inner end of one cross member as indicated at 21 and secured by suitable securing means such as a set screw 22 in the other cross member.

The back 10 is suitably hinged to the seat as indicated at 23, and the seat is hinged to the leg drop at a point below the top as indicated at 24. Arms 25 project forwardly from the telescopic section cross member of the leg drop for support of the foot board 26 which arms may be pivoted on a vertical axis as indicated at 27 so as to require only a fixed pivot 23 adjacent the outer end, or the securing means 28 may operate in a slot parallel to the slot 29, the foot board 26 having foot positioning and retaining means consisting of pairs of side guards 30 and 31 which are provided with straps 32 for strapping the feet in cases where the patient is suffering from cerebral palsy or the like, these pairs of elements being adjustable as to spacing, and the pairs adjustable as to span.

The upper ends of the outer longitudinal members of the leg drop extend above the cross members 16 and terminate in a hinge eye 33, this hinge eye also being located in spaced relation above the hinge 24 to the seat. 7

The back has a sleeve 34 fixed to each of its outer longitudinal members of the main section at the lower end thereof, and a table bracket 35 has a depending portion 36 slidable in the sleeve and fixed in any adjusted position by suitable means such as a set screw 37, and this sleeve also has a pair of hinge ears 38 fixed thereto for connection of two different elements vertically spaced as indicated at 39 and 40, these elements being also telescopic and consisting of a main telescopic member 41 and inner sliding member 42 with one member connected to the ear at 40 and the other connected through the hinge joint 43 to the forward end of the outer member 14 of the seat, and the two members being securable in adjusted position by suitable means such as the set screw 44; this'element providing for adjustment of the inclination ofthe back imeither direction relative tothe perpendicular. V a

. The other element also consists of a main telescopic, member'- 45 and aminner telescopic"member; 46- and also suitably securedfl in adjusted position bya, set screw 7 47,with one end of the elementhingedly connected at 7 indicated at 50' forremoval at- :will, though securing means such as a set screw or thumb; nut-maybe provided if necessary This pivotal mounting p ermits; adjustment of the width of .the chair without; requiring adjustment of the table orarrnssince the arms'will merely pivot and a swing 'without noticeably changing the position. of the table relative to-the back;

-.Another sleeve 51 is fixed to the outer longitudinal member of each of the main frames14 at the upper endsthereof, and an-a rm slingbracket 52 has a depending leg 53 slidably-adjustable in the sleeve and suitably secured as-bya set screw 54, and an arm sling 55 of suitable type is slidable on the arm sling bracket so that the sling can be adjusted to any desired positionfOr SupPOrtof the arm or'arms'o'f the patient.

Suitabie'straps 56 and 57 are provided for'se curing the person in'position, and. here shown as a chest strap a 57 and aseator hip'strap'56. Head supports'58 and 59 are adjustable as to elevation through adjustment of'the height of the back, and for span are adjustable on the cross members '16 a of the back.

A modification of the securing means for the telescopic .tubes is shown in Fig; 4 and in which spaced holes 60 are formed'through the wall of the inside tube and a pin 61' is fixed to a leaf spring 62,,andengages in the 'respectiveholes 60, the spring being fixed to the'outer telescopiomember as indicated at- 63. Obviously no securing means is provided or required for the inner members 15 of the frames.

Fig; '5 illustrates one method offorming'the hingejoint at 24, but suitable only-Where the material can be welded or brazed, and consists of a plug 64 Which-is fixed in one'mernber and having a shouldered portion 65 ter- 'minat'ing in a threaded end 66 for a nut 67, the other member of thehinge consisting of a strap 68 which is welded to the tube 14' as indicated at 69.

For'materials suchas aluminum or plastic, where othermethods of securingjare not feasible, a method is ilthe respective back and frontof. the seat, and rneans for securing said, back and leg drop in' perpendicular or inclinably adjusted position relative to the said'sea't, at will; an arm sling bracket mounted for vertical adjustment on each side of said back, and a sling adjustable along said bracket for support of the arms of a person in any desired position.

3. A universally adjustable chair comprising aback, a seat, and'a leg drop, eacl'rcompri'sing two opposedmem' bers telescopically-connected for adjustment of the width, each of said'opposed members comprising twotmembers j telescopically connected for adjustment a'syto length, said back and said leg drop being hingedly connected to the. respectiveends of said seat, a telescopic strut cooperative; between said back and said seat for adjusting said back relative'to the perpendicular, anda. second telescopic strut. cooperative between said backand'said'leg drop for adjusting said leg drop relative to the perpendicular, where-- by said chair is adjustable to the body 'ofia person to'. be'supported; therein. 7 V V V v 4. A structure as defined in'claimi 3, afoot board supported at the lower end of said leg drop, two pairs of. footpositioning members adjustable on said foot board for span between the pairs, and for span'between the foot positioning-members of each pair, and securing means 7 for eachpair for securing the footer a person against lustrated in Fig; 6, in which the tube 34 isattached to opposite strands of the strap about the tubes and simultaneously fixing the car '38 in position. 7

j A modification of theconnection shown in Fig. 5 is these menibers are formed of material which does not.

readily fuse together, and consists of a strap 73 formed around the cross member 19-and brought together and machined tosnugly fit in the telescopic member or to be I welded thereto.

This would apply to the connections 74. I'claim: a

- 1. A universally-adjustable chair comprising a back,

a seat, and a leg drop,- each formedof telescopic sections extendable'longitudinallyand laterally to conform tothe,

widthand-height of a person-to be seated therein, with said' back and saidlegdrop hingedly connectedto the respective back and front of the seat, and means for securing-saidback and leg 'drop in perpendicular or in- V the tube 14 by a strap 70,,with a bolt 71 clamping the movement between the foot positioning members;

5'.- A structure as defined in claim 4, said leg drop having an upward extension on each side, with saidsecond" telescopic strut hingedly connected between said. back" and-said upward extension for adjustment of the leg'drop. V

and coincidently functioning as an arm forthe" chair...

6. A structureas-defined inrclaim 5, a table bracket ver tically adjustable on each side of said-back and a table." V removably mountedon said' brackets.

7'. A structur e as'defined claim} 6,. a slingl bracket havinga forwardly extending arm and vvertically adjust-V able'oneach side'of said back, and-a sling'supportedby andadjustable along-each'arm for support'pf the arms" a of a person in any desired position. p a

8-.- A structureas-defined-inclaim 7', a pairof head supports adjustably mounted at the upper end' of said back forr cooperation with the sides of the, head ofuaperson supported 'in the chair, and cooperative strap members on the respective sides of the chair for securing the personin positionin the adjusted chair.

j 9. A: universally adjustable chair comprising, ,a,-b'ack',". a seata and a leg drop, each consisting of, laterallyopposed members telescopically connected, each of said' laterally opposed members consisting of two sections tele scopically connected for, longitudinal adjustment, said back 7 and. said leg 'drop' being hingedly connected to, the;

respective back and front ends of said seat,=the sides-of said, leg dropf-havingeach an arm projecting upwardly above the plane of saidseat, a pair' of telescopic strutsfori each-side of saidchair'and'having'therespective endsof" the respective struts of the'pairs'connect edto 'the back;

, and, respectively to the seat and to the-top of said' arthi'.

witlrone ofrsaid struts for each-side forming-means for adjusting the back relative to thevertical, and-the other" one of said struts for eachgside forming; means for; ad.-

tjusting' the 'leg drop" relative to the vertical, and a foot board supported by the, lower end of said leg drop, wheree bythe back, seat; 'and'the foot board; is adjustable toe conform with the body and legs of the person to be supported therein.

10. A structure as defined in claim 9, head supports adjustably mounted at the upper end of said back for cooperation with the sides of the head of the person for support thereof.

11. A structure as defined in claim 10, said foot board having foot positioning elements for the respective sides of the respective feet of the person and being adjustable for span for each foot and for the spacing between the feet.

12. A structure as defined in claim 11, a table bracket for each side of the back and vertically adjustable and having forwardly projecting arms, and a table removably mounted on said arms.

13. A structure as defined in claim 12, a sling bracket for each side of said back and vertically adjustable and having forwardly projecting arms, and a sling on each 6 arm for support of the arms of the person in any desired position.

14. A structure as defined in claim 13, cooperative securing means on said foot positioning elements for securing the feet against vertical movement, and cooperative chest straps and seat straps for the sides of said back for securing the body of the person in an erect position relative to the back.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,505,518 Workman Aug. 19, 1924 2,170,724 Marquardt Aug. 22, 1939 2,688,997 Miller Sept. 14, 1954 2,694,437 Glaser Nov. 16, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 17,950 Great Britain Sept. 25, 1895 

